Fruit picker and gatherer.



GEORGE J'. FALIKIN, OF SAN JOSE, ILLINOIS.

FRUIT PICKER AND GATHERER. Y

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 1a, i916.

Application filed `Uetoloer 20, 1913. Serial No. 736,296.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. FALLKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county of Mason and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Fruit Picker and Gatherer, of which the following is a specication.

The present invention'appertains to fruit pic Yers or gatherers, and aims to provide al simple, compact, durable, and inexpensive device of that character, which will be simple, convenient and efficient in its use, to permit the fruit to be readily plucked and gathered, without the necessity of the perator climbing the tree, or employing a ladder, or the like, which is laborious and otherwise objectionable.

Another object of the is to provide a device of the character indicated, which will be soiconstructed as to permit the fruit to be severed from the stems or branches without the liability of the fruit becoming bruised, means being provided for delivering the fruit to the ground without injury thereto.

With the foregoing general objects outlined, and with other objects in view, which will be apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the present invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein` Figure l is an elevation of the device, portions being broken away. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out the there is provided a pole may be of any suitable length, and which is preferably constructed of sections, permitting the pole to be lengthened and shortened, as desired. The joints between the sta-fl' or pole sections may be of any suitable type.

To the upper end of the staff or pole, is attached a longitudinal fork 2, said fork eing preferably fashioned from a rod, or he like, and the shank of the fork being seured within the end of the stad or pole,

present invention,

present invention, orstail'l l, which j tachably connected,

so that the branches orv arms in a plane in which the axis pole is disposed.

Between the free ends of the fork arms or branches, is riveted or otherwise secured a sleeve or cylindrical shell 3, the-upper end portion of the sleeve being gradually contracted or tapered as at 4, and being provided with longitudinal spaced` open slots 5 having their edges approximately parallel. The slots 5 are spaced circumferentially to provide relatively wide tongues 6, having their ends blunt. It will thus be observed, that the tongues are curved both transversely and longitudinally, to strengthen the same, and furthermore, the tongues are tapered from their butt to their free ends.

Secured to the lower end of the sleeve 3, between the arms or branches of the fork 2, is the upper end of a chute or conveyer 7, which is preferably fashioned from textile material, and which extends from between the arms of the fork over one side of the staff, the chute or conveyer extending along the sta-if andbeing attached thereto in any convenient manner, the being preferably constructed in sections desimilar to the staff sec of the fork lie of the staff or tions.

The sleeve 3 is co-Yaxial with the sta" o1' pole, and is spaced from the end of the staff, the fork or bracket 2 serving to attach the sleeve to the end of the staff, and the conveyer of chute extending from the lower or inner end of the sleeve downward along the staff.

In use, the staif or pole l is manipulated so as to insert the mouth or upper end of the sleeve 3 over the fruit to be plucked or severed, this will permit the stem of the fruit to be readily forced into one of the notches 5. Then, by rotating the stad or pole about its axis, the fruit and its stem will be severed or detached, and the fruit will drop through the sleeve 3 into the conveyer or chute 7, from whence it will be conveyed to the lower end of the stafl'l or pole. The fruit may be caught from the chute 7, by hand or may be received by a'basket or other receptacle, according to the whim of the operftor.

The present device is devoid of any complex or movable parts, and may be easily and conveniently manipulated to pick or gather the fruit in facile and expeditious manner, the sharpened edges of the tongues chute or conveyer also IDO 6 -facilitating the detachment of the fruit, as will be apparent. The ends of the tongues G being blunt, will prevent the said tongues from bruising or injuring the fruit, when the mouth of the sleeve is inserted overthe fruit, and it will be evident that when the fruit is severed and passes down the sleeve into the conveyer, there will be no liability for the fruit to become bruised or injured. The sleeve 3 being co-aXial with the stai? or pole, is of advantage inasmuch as the sleeve may be conveniently manipulated to carry out the results desired, and the upper end or mouth of the sleeve being gradually contracted, will also assist in engaging the tongues 6, which converge toward the axis of the sleeve, to beengaged over the backs of the fruit to detach the same.

Particular atention is directed to the fact that the outer end portion of the sleeve or shell 3 is spun inwardly gently, to provide the contracted opening, and that the longi tudinal open slots 5 are coeXtensive with the spun portion. Thus, the outer end portion of the sleeve or shell may be spun inwardly upon a lathe or any other suitable machine, prior to the formation of the slots 5 in the sleeve or shell, and when the slots are formed in the sleeve, it will be observed that the tongues formed thereby, will be re- Copes of this patent may be obtained for inforced or braced by the longitudinal and transverse curvature thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A fruit picker having a cylindrical member provided at its upper end with parallel sided stem receiving longitudinal slots detining spaced fingers curved inwardly toward their upper extremities and terminating in blunt ends in a common transverse plane, a staff disposed in line with theaxial center o said cylindrical member and terminating at its upper end below the lower end of the cylindrical member, a fork connecting the upper end of the staff with the wall of the cylindrical member'and having side elements unobstructing the lower outlet end of said cylindrical member, and a chute connected with the lower end of said member and extending between the elements of the fork to convey detached fruit without contact with said staff.V

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE J. EALLKIN.V

Witnesses:

C. HorEwELL, FRED W. JAoos.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0; 

